Mining planers having an impact action



Oct. 11, 1960 J. HERRMANN 2,955,809

MINING PLANERS HAVING AN IMPACT ACTION Original Filed May 24, 1955 INVENTORJ Tuuus HKR MMM 6 X I v 1 3 I flaw 5%? MINING PLANERS HAVING AN llVIPACT ACTION Julius Herrmann, Westphalia, Germany, assig'nor to Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westphalia, Wethmar, near 'Lunen (Westphalia), Germany, a corporation of Germany Original application May 24, 1955, Ser. No. 510,788,

new Patent No. 2,873,959, dated Feb. 17, 1959. Divrded and this application July 8, 1958, Ser. No. 747,218

Claims. (Cl. 262-8) Unit States Patent This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mining planers and is a division of my copending applicatlon Serial No. 510,788, filed May 24, 1955 now Patent No. 2,873,959.

Mining planers such as coal mining planets are known and comprise a planer cutting head which is drawn along a mine face for the cutting or plowing of a strip of mineral, such as the coal, from the mine face. The mining planer is particularly well adapted for a type of mining known as long wall mining and may be used for efiiciently removing coal by the long wall method and especially from narrow seams.

The mining planer preferably has a planer cutting head which is movable in either direction along a longitudinally extending conveyor. The planer head is provided with cutters for cutting in each direction and is drawn back i and forth along the leading portion of the conveyor.

In operation, the planer conveyor is positioned along the mine face of a long wall panel in a mining gallery and rests on the mine floor. The conveyor is composed of sections which are connected together so as to allow a flexing therebetween. The conveyor is urged toward the mine face and the planer cutting head is drawn back and forth along the conveyor by means of a flexible-traction element such as a chain cable or the like. As the planer cutting head is drawn back and forth along the conveyor, and the conveyor is urged toward the mine face, the planer cuts and turns or plows cut material in a substantially continuous manner into the conveyor which, in turn, continuously transports the material for removal.

Upon casual observation of the planer in operation, it may be noted that the forward movement does not take place uniformly, but that the same is effected more or less irregllarly with jerky motions. If a measuring member is inserted between the planer and the traction element such as the chain, it may be noted that the pulling tension continuously changes.

One object of this invention is a mining planer construction which will utilize the irregular forward motion of the planer head to obtain an increased efiiciency in output. This and still further objects will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a portion of a conventional plow planer in operation,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of a planer cutting tool, in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 3 shows the cutting tool of Fig. 2 partially in section,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of an embodiment of a planer cutter in accordance with the invention,

. Fig, 5 is a partial section of a further embodiment of a planer cutter in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 6 is a partial section of a still further embodiment of a planer cutter in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a still further embodiment of a planer cutter in accordance with the invention,

. the like.

Patented Oct. 11, 1960 Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a still further embodiment of a cutter in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of a planer head showing a still further embodiment of a cutter construction in accordance with the invention.

In accordance with the invention the irregular forward motion of the planer and the variation in tension of the flexible traction element are used to produce an impact or striking action on the planer cutter to aid in the cutting action and to increase the output. The planer, in accordance with the invention, has a conventional planer head.

direction of the planer. counters an increased cutting resistance, the same yields,

i.e., moves, in a direction substantially opposite to the: cutting direction for a limited distance.

gained in this manner, for example, the increased kinetic;

energy of the planer, is then utilized for the additional: actuation of the cutter, as for example, the inertia of the; planer may be utilized for increased cutting action upon striking the cutting tool when the same reaches its end.

limit of yieldable movement.

The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing.

Referring to Fig. 1, the planer consists of the planet head 10 which is movable back and forth along the leading portion 11 of the longitudinally extending conveyor 12. The conveyor 12 of conventional construction has the two laterally guided chains 14 and 15 which are connected to each other at spaced intervals by the scraper flights 13. The chains 14 and 15 are driven in any conventional manner as, for example, around a sprocket wheel, by a drive motor and the scraper flights 13 elfect the conveyance of the mined material by dragging the same along the conveyor.

The planer head 10 is drawn back and forth along the conveyor by means of the flexible traction element consisting of the chain 16-17. The planer head has the planer cutters 19 and 20 for cutting in each direction of travel. I

The conveyor 12 is positioned longitudinally along a mine face as, for example, a long wall in coal mining. The conveyor is urged toward the mine face as, for example, by means of pneumatic jacks and the like and the planer head 10 with planer cutters 19 and 20 drawn back and forth in contact with the coal, by means of the flexible traction elements 16, 17 driven in any conventional manner. As the planer pulls in the direction of the portion of the chains 16, cutter 19 effects the cutting of the coal which is automatically plowed into the conveyor for removal. When the direction is reversed sothattraction is exerted on the portion 17 of the chain, the cutter 20 efiects the removal of the coal and the plowing of the same into the conveyor. In each direction of motion, a strip of coal corresponding to thickness 21, is removed from the mine face and forced into the conveyor for removal. The conveyor with the planer is continuously advanced by means of theforce of the pneumatic jacks or the like.

In order to eifect the removal of the coal, the planer cutter 19 and planer head 10 is pulled with the elastic tension at 22 by means of the chain 16 or by means of another flexible traction element such as a cable rope or The cutter 19 in this connection penetrates to a certain depth into the coal until the tension in the trac The energy 3 tion element. 16 has risen to such an extent that the coal is "broken ofi approximately along the line of fracture 23. The planer thereupon due to the sudden decrease in resistancemoves forward rapidlyby a small amount,.ten-

sion of the traction element 16 being 'corr'espondingiydechain 16-17 has a certain elastic extensibility, are

tors contributing to the 'un-uniform motion of the planer.

In accordance with the invention, in 'or'derto utilize this un-un-iform motion'tofiadvantage, at ifleast agpottior'i ofthepl-aner cutter 1920fmaybe definedbythe picklike'cutting'tool*'24,-'as shown infFigs' 2 and 3. Th out: ter tool 24 is axially 'nrova'bleto' a limited extent the planer 'hea'dIO. As shown in Fig. 3, cutter tool 2f4 is axially slidable between extendedpos'ition in which its coda-r26 'strikes"the :planer head anda rearposi; tion in which'the base 29 strikes'theportion of the planer 'head '10. Tool .24 is resiliently "urged to its forward position as is shown in Fig. 3 by means of a spring 25' whichpresses-againstfthe collar 26. Thetension of thesp'ring 25 should "be 'somewhatjlessjthan the,pulling forth 'exerted'by the chain '16. j

.In'operation .as the planer head '10,is pulled bythe chain 115 in the direction shown in Fig. l, the cutting tool 24 contacts the m'inefa'ce asshoWninFigfiZ the tool 24 first of all penetrates a small amount into the coal. As the resistance in the coal increases, the forward penetration speed of the tool 24 correspondingly decreases. The planer head, however, is pulled forward at a 1111ifonm speed. so that the spring 25 compresses andplaner head 10 moves forward in relation to the cutting tool 24. The stop surface 28 of the planer head 10 finally, however, strikes the base 29 of the cutter tool 24 so' that a portion of the inertia force of the forwardly moving planer head 10 and of the chain 16 is transmitted to. the cutting tool 24 which is accordingly accelerated forward and which in turn breaks oif the coal approximately along the dotted line 30 as shown in Fig. 2. In this conmotion the cutting tool 24 is suddenlyreleased from the load and is suddenly moved axially to its forward position as shown in Fig. 3 by means of thebiasing, force of the spring 25. The cutting tool 24 and theplaner'head then continues to move forward with thesame speed until the cutting tool 24 again encounters theincreased resistance of the coal and the procedure is repeated.

In place of a flexible traction element, the 'forward 7 motion of the planer head 10- as, for example, in the direction 27 as shown in Fig. '3 may beetfected in the known manner by a spring, pressure'cylinder, .or the like.

If two planers of identical construction were simultaneously used underidentical'conditions the irregular movements of the planer heads would, at best, only rarely coincide. In the same manner, the resistance encountered along the vertical lengthof the planer cutters or the individual cutting tools vertioa-llypositionedalong the planer cutter head rarely coincide. 'This'phenomena may be advantageously utilized in accordance with the invention as illustrated in the following embodiments:

In accordance with'the embodiment as. shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the front end of the planer head 10 has a leaf-shaped cutting t00l31 whichis. pivoted'at a horizontalpin 32 and which terminates on the tool cutting tips 33 and 34 both or which. face 'forward in the directi'on'of motion of 'the planer head 10 'in operation and are positioned substantially vertically one above the other. If the planer is pulledvforward by the chain 16 with a constant speed and if the cutter'34, for example, encounters a greater resistance than the cutter '33, the cutter 34 will lag 'somewhat'behind and the leaf will pivot about pin 32. The forwardspeed of thecutter 34 will thus be less than the forward speed of advance of the 'p'la'nerhead 1'0. On the other hand, however, the opposite cutter point 33 will'be forced at a correspondingly greater speed against the coal, loosening it. Finally, the lower end of the lea1f..31 will strike against the planer head 10 and the inertia force of the planer head will be concentrated at the lower cuttingp'oititf34 so that the latter will overcome the increased resistance which opposed it. If the point 33 of the leaf 31 would first meet correspondingly increased resistance as compared to the point 34, and the process would of course .be reversed.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the two elongated cutting tools 22 are pivotally'connect'ed to the double arm lever'35 which is pivoted about the pin 36 in the plow planer head. The cutting tools 24 in the normal position are in a substantially vertical plane one above the other and their operation issubstantially identical to that described in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment asshown in Fig. 6, the tools 24, instead of being attached ztothe'double arm lever 35 are pivotally connected to the ends of a cam lever -37, the convex rear side;38 of which rests-againstafiat support surface 39gof theplaner head ".10. A spring 40, -'resiliently urges the leverrearwardlyiso that its surfiace 37' contacts. the supporting surface139 of'the planer head. The spring'40 alsoitends to resiliently hold the cam 31 in a position as shown, with the central portion of the convex surface 38 in contact with the support surface 39. The operation of this embodiment is substantially identical to that described in connection with Figs. 4- and 5, except that upon the swinging of the cam lever-37, 'there is obtainedqa continuous'displacement of the pivot point, i.e.,fthe pointo'f contact of the convex surface 38 and flat support surface :39 and thus a continuouschange o f the lever ratio.- p

In the embodiment .as shown 5in Fig. 7, a single, flattened-cutter 41 .ismounted in front ofthe planer head 10. The :forward edge ofthecutter 1-1 is serrated forming the cutting teeth 44 and'the rear-edge 38 isconvex shape forming the rolling. face'i38. In addition, the rear end of'the cutter :41 has the projection412., whiclrengages in. the socket 43 which 1 is "somewhat larger 'th an 'the projection 42 to allow a limited movement therein. 'Dueto the looseness of fitof the projection-42 in-the socket-"43 and the convexrolling' surface '38, the cutter 40-may swing or pivot in. a vertical plane, i.e., roll on the surface 38. In operation, if the teeth 44 in the upper-portion of the cutter-41 encounter increased'resistance, the cutter Conversely, if the lower portion of the cutter 41.en-'

counters the increased resistance, theprocedure is reversed.

In the embodiment as sho ,nyin Fig. 'j8,-the.-cutter.-4S.

is in the form of a flat..plate-. With .aserratedforward cutting edge defining individualcutt-ing teeth. Thecutter 45 is connected tothe planer'head 10 by the crossed levers 46 and 47, pivotally connected-to the cutter-45 and the-planer head'lt). The cross-lever connection allow swinging or pivoting of the cutter 45 in a substantially vertical planeiand thus allows inoperation-"aipor- -tion of the cutter -45 to have its forward motion retarded with respect to the- -planer he-ad ill-'arlimited distance upon encounteringincreased'resistance inthe same ma'nneras described in theembodiment shown 'iniFigs.

4,5,6and7. 7

' Depending on the .har'dnessand the cleavability of" the material to be mined, one or the other of the various embodiments shown may prove more advantageous.

As shown in Fig. 9, the planer cutter on planer head is defined by a number of cutting tools 24, 48, staggered with respect to each other and positioned vertically one above the other. The cutting tool 24 may, for example, be movable, to correspond to the cutting tool 24 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while the cutting tool 48 may be stationary.

In accordance with the invention, depending on the nature of the coal or other material to be mined, it is possible either to increase the capacity or reduce the power consumption of the planer. The above described features of the planer head and cutter may also be used in the same or similar form in scraper boxes or other mining tools having a stripping action in the mining of coal or other ores.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown, various changes and modifications will become apparent to the artisan which fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mining planer having a planer head with a planer cutter movable along a mine face, the improvement which comprises a cutting tool defining at least a portion of said planer cutter formed by at least two vertically spaced apart cutting members connected together by a cross member, said cross member being -pivotally connected at its central portion to the planer head for limited movement of said cutting members relative the planer head in substantially their cutting direction and the direction reversed thereto and stop means substantially rigid with the planer head limiting the movement of said cutting members in the direction opposite their cutting direction.

2. In a mining planer having a planer head with a planer cutter movable along a mine face the improvement which comprises a cutting tool defining at least a portion of said planer cutter formed by a cutting plate having a serrated forward cutting edge and a convex shaped rear portion positioned in rocking engagement with a substantially fiat support surface defined by said planer head whereby each end of said cutting tool may rock relative the planer in substantially its cutting direction and the direction reversed thereto, and stop means substantially rigid with the planer head limiting the movement of each end of the cutting tool in the direction opposite its cutting direction.

3. In a mining planer having a planer head with a planer cutter movable along a mine face, the improvement which comprises a cutting tool defining at least a portion of said planer cutter formed by a cutter plate having a serrated forward edge and connected to said planer head by a pair of crossed lever arms for pivoting each of its ends relative the planer head in substantially its cutting direction and the direction reversed thereto and stop means substantially rigid with the planer head limiting the movement of said cutting tool in the direction opposite its cutting direction.

4. In a mining planer having a planer head with a planer cutter movable along a mine face, the improvement which comprises a cutting tool defining at least a portion of said planer cutter formed by a cutting plate having a serrated forward cutting edge and pivotally connected to the planer head for limited pivoting relative the planer head between a first position with an end portion of the cutter edge retracted adjacent the planer head and the other end of the cutter edge advanced from the planer head in its cutting direction and a second position with said first mentioned end of the cutter edge retracted adjacent the planer head and the other end of the cutter edge advanced from the planer head in its cutting direction, and stop means substantially rigid With the planer head limiting the movement of said cutter tool between said first and second position.

5. In a mining planer having a planer head with a planer cutter movable along a mine face, the improvement which comprises a cutting tool defining at least a portion of said planer cutter formed by a cutting plate having at least two vertically spaced-apart cutting tips which face forward in the cutting direction of the planer head, said cutting tool being pivotally connected to the planer head for pivoting relative thereto between a first position with the upper cutting tip retracted adjacent the planer head and the lower cutting tip advanced from the planer head in its cutting direction and a second position with the upper cutting tip advanced from the planer head in its cutting direction and the lower cutting tip retracted adjacent the planer head and stop means substantially rigid with the planer head limiting the movement of said cutting tool between said first and second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,614,476 Jennings Oct. 21, 1952 2,690,903 Sloane Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 486,895 France Feb. 22, 1918 862,433 Germany Jan. 12, 1953 161,005 Great Britain Apr. 7, 1921 622,923 Great Britain May 10, 1949 717,033 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1954 

